Revelation 21:13; On the North, South and West Three Gates

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Revelation 21:13 (KJV)  On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 

The phrase “on the north” singles out the gates facing northward. These may be Reuben, Judah, and Levi according to Ezekiel 48:31 or Dan, Asher and Naphtali as in Numbers 2:25-29 (Alford, Lee).

Ezekiel 48:31 (KJV)  And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. 

Numbers 2:25-29 (KJV)  The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, werethreescore and two thousand and seven hundred. And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 

“On the South” designates the gates on the city’s south wall. These are possibly Simeon, Issachar and Zebulun in agreement with Ezekiel 48:33 or Reuben, Simeon and Gad accord with Numbers 2:10-14 (Alford, Lee).

Ezekiel 48:33 (KJV)  And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. 

Numbers 2:10-14 (KJV)  On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred. And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. 

The gates facing westward are last in this sequence, “on the west”. Gad, Asher and Naphtali complete the twelve gates on this side if Ezekiel’s sequence is determinative (Ezekiel 48:34) or Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin following that in Numbers 2:8-22 (Alford, Lee).

Ezekiel 48:34 (KJV)  At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. 

Numbers 2:18-22 (KJV)  On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred. And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 463-464]